The 1.75 and 2.5 litre reservoirs are from HydrapakRussell Eich / Immediate Media

The rear panel and straps look to have plenty of ventilationRussell Eich / Immediate Media

Thule is well known as a car rack company with a gamut of products to outfit your vehicle to carry practically any sporting equipment. In addition to racks, Thule has been expanding its offerings with a huge range of backpacks and luggage. Following that trend, the Swedish firm is jumping into the highly contested hydration pack market with three packs.

Three options of the Vital backpack will be available. From left: 8, 6, and 3 litreCourtesy

Thule Vital specs

Cargo capacity: 3, 6, and 8 litre packs available

Vital 3: 1.75L Hydrapak reservoir

Vital 6 and 8: 2.5L Hydrapak reservoir

ReTrakt magnetic hose return system

Low-slung design

Weight: .45 / .52 /.55kg (1 / 1.15 / 1.21lbs)

Built for comfort and feature-laden

Thule claims the new Vital line of packs are built for comfort with a low-slung design that places the weight of the pack on the rider’s hips. The upper back and shoulder straps are a mesh reinforced material for breathability.

To keep the reservoir hose from flopping around, Thule’s ReTrakt system uses seven small magnets to draw the hose back to the shoulder strap.

Pockets abound, including ones on the waist belt for quick access to items without having to remove the pack. These jersey like pockets feature an extra lip at the top designed to keep items inside the pocket without the use of a zipper.

Inside the bright yellow interior, there are dedicated loops for a mini tire pump as well as a shock pump.

Pockets and storage options abound throughout and the interior is the right color to keep things visibleCourtesy

Thule Vital pricing and availability

$89 USD for the Vital 3, $119 USD for the Vital 6, and $139 USD for the Vital 8, including the hydration bladder. UK£ and AU$ are to be confirmed.